Keeping chickens in the garden has many advantages: Not only do they lay delicious eggs, but they also significantly reduce the number of pests in the garden. Find out here whether chickens also eat snails and how you can use them to combat a snail infestation.
Do chickens eat snails in the garden?
Yes, chickens eat snails, especially smaller shell snails and snail eggs. Larger slugs are more likely to be eaten by larger breeds of chicken. Chickens in the garden help reduce pests and prevent a snail infestation.
Do chickens eat snails?
MostChickens eat snailsand different types of snails. Smaller shell snails and snail eggs are particularly popular with chickens, which prevents snail infestation. Large slugs such as the Spanish slug are only eaten by a few breeds of chickens. In addition to snails, other pests are also on the menu of chickens:
- Grubs
- Caterpillars
- Beetle
By the way, snails are in no way harmful to chickens.
Which chickens eat snails?
It's probablynot breed dependent, but it does depend on size whether chickens eat snails, and above all a question of habit. If you offer your chickens snails when they are chicks, they will accept them more easily. You can also collect snails and offer them directly to your chickens to get them used to the slimy food.
Experience shows thatyoung chickensespecially like to eat snails. Larger chicken breeds such as Orpingtons also eat larger slugs. Smaller breeds only eat small snails.
How and when do I use chickens against snails?
Since slugs, which are less popular with chickens, cause damage in the garden, it is worth letting the chickens focus on the eggs.
Not all snails overwinter, but all snails layin late summer or autumn Eggs to ensure offspring next year. So once you've harvested the harvest from your vegetable garden, it's time to use the chickens:
- Dig up the garden soil.
- Let the chickens into the vegetable garden immediately afterwards.
- The chickens now scratch the freshly dug up snail eggs and the larvae of other pests out of the ground and eat them.
What alternatives are there to chickens against snails?
It's not just chickens that like to eat snails; The number one snail killers areRunning ducksThe advantage: Running ducks love slugs and, like chickens, also lay numerous eggs. The big disadvantage: Runner ducks need a water source such as a pond or a water basin. In addition to runner ducks and chickens, hedgehogs, moles and larger birds also feast on snails.
What problems can occur when eating snails?
Snails are parasite carriers. If your chickens eat a lot of snails, you should worm regularly to prevent your animals from becoming ill.
Tip
Rent chickens
If you are plagued by snails in your garden but don't want to buy chickens, you can rent some. As mentioned, this is particularly effective in late summer or autumn after you have harvested your beds. After digging, let the chickens onto the beds and let them do the tasty work.
